The blogging concept was born back in 1999, the same year I graduated from art school. Looking back, I do see may benefits blogging could have had for me during my years as an art student. I hope art students realize the amazing potential blogging can have in their early development as an artist.

It will help in your art studies, articulate in words what your art is about, and gather important contacts in the art world.

Through blogging, all of this can be done before you even graduate. Whether you attend an art school, or enrol in an online art course such as DrawPJ, this post should be for you.

Why Should Art School Students Create Blogs?

Blogging will help to reinforce and articulate what you learned

What have you learned that day? Was it a new painting technique? Did you experiment with a new art material? Did you learn about a particular art movement or artist in art history class?

Writing about art may help to reinforce what you learned and explain it to others more eloquently. Think of it as a form of studying and preparation for exams.

Write some posts in a tutorial format. Doing so will establish yourself as an authority on the subject and followers may look to you for advice.

To the right is a clay sculpture I created in my 4th year of art school (1999) titled “Broken Wave”.

Blogs will instantly establish yourself as an upcoming artist

I have heard of many people who have landed a job at their trade even before finishing school – mainly for having the right connections. For art students, an art blog will help you establish connections in the art world very early. Let visiting artists and lecturers know about your art blog. Tell the world about your art, why you want to become an artist, your beliefs, fears, and plans for the future.

Learn about ways to market your art, and share them at your art blog. In doing so, you will ready yourself for the time you eventually graduate.

Above: “Island” clay and acrylic paint, 1997 - By Graham Matthews

Blog to showcase your artistic development

Use a blog to showcase your expanding portfolio. This is something you will not regret.

In my first 2 years of art school, studio classes were structured on the art projects format - based on principles of design. For example, our sculpture assignments were limited to certain materials such as cardboard, wire and foam core, materials that could not last.

Most of these sculptures were damaged and subsequently thrown in the garbage, but I do have photographs of some (such as the metamorphosis themed sculpture above (1996), created with cardboard, glue, and acrylic paint).

Of course, blogging didn’t exist back then. I wish it did though. The blog would have helped me to document my progress very early in my art career. It would be something that I could still refer to even now, even though these early design projects ended up in the trash.

Blogging to prepare for class critiques

Class critiques were the tradition at my art school, and followed every major art project.

Through writing, your ideas will become clearer in your mind. Blogging about why you created a particular artwork will help to explain your artwork, and defend yourself in a class critique.

Blogging following a critique may be a good idea as well.

Explain your experience, and even your impressions of the artwork of other students.

Blog to sell your art and make money to pay for your education.

My art professors frowned on students who sold art while in arts college – but there were some who did just that. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. If you can sell artworks as a student, then all the more power to you. It shows that your art is marketable, and will help to establish your career as an artist even before you graduate. It can also help you pay for education expenses. I know how difficult it can be for art students to afford art supplies. So, blogging to sell some art after the class critique will only enable them to buy more art materials.

To learn more about starting a successful blog, please refer to the blogging guide that has helped me immensely - 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, written by the original ProBlogger Darren Rowse.

Are you an artist who blogs? Why do you blog about your art and how has it helped you in your artistic development and marketability?

If you run an art blog, please post it below and tell us all about it.

Note: All the artworks on this page are by Graham Matthews, and were created as art school projects.

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Absolutely agree!! Blogging is a great way to showcase your work & build a visual history outside of your portfolio. For art students who are looking for exposure but can't find the time to commit to blogging on their own, commenting on blogs - as long as it's relevant!! - and adding links to your portfolio or a specific piece that relates can also help people find your work.